Restless Leg Syndrome (No, not THAT leg...)

Chadman

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Apr 2, 2000
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Wondering if anyone else here has to deal with this in their everyday life? Growing up, I always had issues with this, and it's gotten worse as I have gotten older. My mom had it, and I guess I got it from her...I dunno. At any rate, the condition is evidently called Restless Leg Syndrome - it's really irritating, happens in the mid to late evening for me, most of the time, where my feet and legs just get kinda fritzy...have to keep moving them around every so often, makes it difficult to relax and sleep many nights.

Has anyone used the advertised prescription drug for it? I've seen it advertised in the past year. A pharmacist told me to take a combo of potassium and another vitamin and it helps. I haven't noticed much help there, but maybe it does help if you take it for a long time.

I can endure the "Jimmy-Leg" jokes from Seinfeld fans, and general restless leg jokes from others, if it will help me in the long run...have at it...:)

Seriously, any advice or experience with this would be welcomed.
 

Lookn4help

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Sep 12, 2004
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RLS

RLS

Have it bad, Doc put me on Klonopin and seems to work well.
I don't take the meds all the time, just when I really can't get to sleep due to "cramping, and jumping sensation" in my legs. Hope this helps
 

IntenseOperator

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Sep 16, 2003
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My gf has it. It's aweful. She's on her feet 10-14 hours a day as a nurse and then has no control of her legs when we sit and watch tv, sometimes eat, or see a show. It's very wearing on a person (and their sig other). She also suffers from leg pain.

She's been to circulatory docs and nerve docs and has gotten a couple total varying opinions.

I asked about this drug on the market and she said it has very strong side affects, esp drowsiness, that she wanted no part of.

GL on your situation
 

tigerfan

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Aug 31, 2002
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Sometimes at night my left leg will tingle so bad that is wakes me up or i cant fall alsleep - i went to the dr and had a mri done and it was a buldging disk - so if i am doing alot during the day such as playing golf, working out, what ever i take 2 alieve and it does not bother me as much - hope this helps - i know i hate it when it happens to me
 

layinwood

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Chadman, I have it really bad. Bad enough it annoys my wife in bed because I have to move my legs around so much. It seems to really kick in late in the evening when I'm sitting around trying to calm down for bed. I've tried a prescrition for it(can't remember the name) but it didn't work.

For the last 2-3 months I've cut out caffiene after lunch and it has worked wonders. I still get it every once in a while but not like I did in the past. It's almost like having anxiety in your legs, extremely uncomfortable.
 

Chadman

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Appreciate the ideas...keep them coming. I had it really bad on my redeye flight back from Hawaii on Saturday overnight...could not sleep at all on the flight and took a couple Dramamine out of desperation...actually made things worse. I thought my head was going to explode, being stuck on that plane for hours. And was SO tired on Sunday. Oh well, the preceding 7 days were nice...

dance2 <------ Me, in my seat on the plane...
 

gardenweasel

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Jan 10, 2002
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"the bunker"
i had it as a kid.."nervous legs" is the best way to describe it......very strange sensation....glad i don`t have it anymore...

chad...do you have a treadmill?.....if you do,make sure you use it for around a half hour 3-4 times a week....religiously...really helps circulation...

i`ve used a treadmill for years and my resting pulse rate pretty much runs around 50-60.....

don`t think extended periods standing or sitting helps the situation...
 
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Chadman

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Some good, sensible ideas here that don't involve medication - although I'm strongly considering that, too. I think the caffeine thing makes a lot of sense, and the treadmill idea is also good. I need to hit that now anyway...we have a nice one and I never use it because I hate to run unless chasing a ball around. That probably would help a lot to at least do some fast walking on it before bed, without getting too fired up before bedtime, when the jimmy-leg is getting to me.

Thanks again, fellas.
 

Morris

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Aug 23, 2002
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Above the Clouds....
I have it and it is very irritating. I can't sit and watch tv at nite. It is to the point where it's almost painful. Don't laugh but my Doc said to have a beer or two while watching tv. Seems it relaxes you and prepares you for sleep. It worked for me. :shrug:
 

just cover

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Oct 10, 2001
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I have had back problems for years and I personally think that has something to do with it. The last 2 years I have had that restless legs thing and just couldn't get to sleep. It got so bad with me constantly moving them around the wife started sleeping in the spare bedroom. I finally went to the doc and about 3 months ago was prescribed Requip. I saw a little improvement but asked for a higher dose. It has helped alot. My suggestion is take it 2 hours before you are actually going to sleep if you decide to use it. I wouldn't lay down until an hour before bed. The doc also told me exercise will help but don't do it to close to bedtime. The Requip is actually a small dose that they use for Parkinson patients from what I was told.

Some people think it is a bogus condition, but wait until they know someone who has it. It just plain sucks bigtime.

I hope this helps you out

jc
 
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